Study reveals how Trump’s moral rhetoric diverges from common Republican language

In a recent study published in PNAS Nexus, researchers uncovered a stark divide in the moral language used by U.S. political candidates during the 2016 and 2020 presidential primaries. The findings also shed light on a notable divergence in Donald Trump’s use of fairness language in 2016 compared to typical Republican rhetoric, setting him apart from other candidates in his party. Historically, effective use of moral language – focusing on notions of right and wrong – has been a powerful tool in political persuasion and advocacy, as observed by Aristotle. In recent political eras, characterize...